Staying Present With Your Kids

We’re in the thick of it mamas. Winter break. No school. Holiday everything. Family gatherings. If you’re like most of us, you’re probably worn out and looking forward to January when things calm back down. But let’s change the mindset on this for a minute. Rather than wishing it all away and hoping for quieter days in a week or two, shift your thoughts to being more present in the current moment. 

Sure, there are a thousand things you need to be doing right now. The dishes are dirty, there’s laundry to be done. You need to call the sitter for New Years Eve. And all the while your kids are asking you to come be with them. Please come play a new game. Please come help with a craft. Please be the fort builder. 

In these moments of chaos or overwhelm, take a deep breath, and then assess the situation. Are these things on your to do list really that pressing? Can the day to day items wait just another hour or two? Slow down and give yourself permission to be in the moment with your kids. We’re constantly juggling so many things in our days as moms that we miss these valuable moments to connect with our kids on a playful level. 

So the next time you have too many things to do and your child invites you to play, say yes. Even if you can only offer them 15 minutes, spend it with them and enjoy the creativity and fun with them. If nothing else, it will give you a mental break from feeling so bogged down with tasks and help reset your day.